8everse englneerlng (8L) ls Lhe process of dlscoverlng Lhe Lechnologlcal prlnclples of a devlce ob[ecL or

sysLem Lhrough analysls of lLs sLrucLure funcLlon and operaLlon lL ofLen lnvolves Laklng someLhlng (eg
a mechanlcal devlce elecLronlc componenL or sofLware program) aparL and analyzlng lLs worklngs ln
deLall Lo be used ln malnLenance or Lo Lry Lo make a new devlce or program LhaL does Lhe same Lhlng
wlLhouL uLlllzlng any physlcal parL of Lhe orlglnal

8everse englneerlng has lLs orlglns ln Lhe analysls of hardware for commerclal or mlllLary advanLage 1
1he purpose ls Lo deduce deslgn declslons from end producLs wlLh llLLle or no addlLlonal knowledge
abouL Lhe procedures lnvolved ln Lhe orlglnal producLlon 1he same Lechnlques are currenLly belng
researched for appllcaLlon Lo legacy sofLware sysLems noL for lndusLrlal or defense ends buL raLher Lo
replace lncorrecL lncompleLe or oLherwlse unavallable documenLaLlon2